NanoPEBs are available periodically on ebay and arcadeshopper.com a limited quantity is produced and sold without any regular schedule.
Includes 32k ram expansion, floppy disk emulation off a proprietorially formatted CF card and a single DTE 9pin RS232 port. This port is not software compatible with most original serial programs
TIMXT
TI Web Browser
TELCO has been patched
MassXfer has been patched
TE2 works out of the box
Any program that uses DSR access to RS232 should also work as long as it enables the port.
CF7’s are also available on Ebay and arcadeshopper.com randomly..
Includes 32k ram expansion, floppy disk emulation the same as the NanoPEB and a single IBM PC cable compatible Parallel port on a 25 pin connector.
The parallel port is not software compatible with programs that do not make DSR calls. Using the PIO device works fine in basic and other utilities that use that DSR.
Both the NanoPEB and CF7 file system on the CF card can only be read and written using the software on the author’s site, TIDIR from Fred Kaal or the java applicationTIImageTool.
Both the NanoPEB and CF7 are unable to easily have their 32k disabled to coexist with other cards that provide 32k. So If you wanted to use one in conjunction with say a TIPI card, you’d need a way to plug both into the side port and only have one enabled 32k card.
What Joysticks and controllers are available for my TI?
NOTE: the #1 reported issue with joysticks is the up direction doesn’t work, if you have a original TI-99/4A the alpha-lock key interferes with this direction. You must have alpha-lock UP to use the joystick.
TI Handheld controllers are very common in the black plastic model.
Less common in the beige color.
These are nicknamed “hand wreckers” as they use a poorly designed lever and membrane method with foam pads under the membrane that tend to go bad over time.
Jgrisssom created this post on updating the hand wreckers with some modern switches and 3d printed parts: https://forums.atariage.com/topic/338357-revisiting-the-original-ti-99-joysticks/
there were also these babies that were released with the 99/4 that were even worse!
Since the TI-99/4 and 4A both use the same joystick port pinout they are interchangeable.
Atari compatible joysticks can be used using an adapter, there were various models made fromWicoand other manufacturers. (all discontinued)
A compact “Atari” joystick adapter is currently available here:
Wico made a very nice Trackball they are available on Ebay now and then
Milton Bradley released a MBX expansion system for the TI in 1983 that contained an enhanced speech synth, speech recognition, a “touchpad” interface and enhanced controllers
SuperSketch was available for the TI and had it’s own paint program built in. Also a TI-artist DSR was available. These were difficult to use due to the linear axis of the system.
TI released two versions of the PEB (Peripheral Expansion Box)
Original 99/4 model that has a push button switch
99/4 PEB
Later model that has a rocker switch
99/4 PEB
mythical Beige system with unreleased beige monitor/exp box and hexbus sidecar
There was a beige colored box in advertisements for the QI models but it was never manufactured or released to the public.
The older PEB (top) has much taller card holders. Also notice that the older PEB has an external fuse which is easy to replace. To see where they hid the fuse on the newer models go here: http://mainbyte.com/ti99/peb_pow/peb_pow.html
Though there were a few small differences both the PEB’s can be used interchangeably.
tall expansion box slotsshort expansion box slots
The expansion box connected to the 99/4 and 99/4a with the Flex Cable
Interface card installed in slot 1 which included a large black ribbon cable and a large connector that connects to the expansion port on the right side of the console. This was dubbed the “fire hose” by TI owners.
Many cards were made available for the PEB including Memory expansion, RAMdisks, CPM coprocessor boards, Pcode Pascal system, Western Digital Hard disk Controller interfaces, SCSI controller, IDE controller, Video controller, Floppy disk controllers, SID99, Speech synth adapter (to hide the speech board in the PEB) and much more.
Force Command is the DOS like interface people have always yearned for on the TI-99/4A.
From the wiki: https://github.com/jedimatt42/fcmd/wiki
Force Command for the TI-99/4A
Force Command is a command module for the TI-99/4A home computer from the early 80s. It is an interactive command line shell such as MSDOS ‘command.com’ for file management as well as batch scripting for the 4A.
There was prior art named 4ADOS from back in the 80s as well. However, this user found that program irritating. So I have ignored 4ADOS, and taken inspiration from the manuals of MSDOS 2.11 and my own use of MSXDOS.
Minimum Requirements
(Some features will not be available)
TI-99/4A
32K expansion ram
Some filesystem device
128K ROM Cartridge
Development System
TI-99/4A
SAMS
F18A VGA adapter
FinalGROM99
TIPI
Texas Instruments Floppy Controller
Hardware compatibility
It has been authored to support many of the pre-existing rare devices that are out there, however the author cannot test with those devices. SeeCompatibilityfor details.
Video support
The program auto-detects the F18A video processor and if present begins in enhanced attribute 80 column mode. In this mode the screen supports full ANSI graphics commands received either through [echo] commands or from displaying a file with [type] commands.
If the F18A is not detected, the program starts in 40 column mode.
The mode can be switched with the [width] command and color can also be controlled with the [color] command.
Cartridge Support
It is distributed as 2 files:
FCMDG.bin – Single GROM with program entry “AUTOCMD” and power up routine to start the ROM automatically.
FCMDC.bin – 128K ROM with program entry title: “FORCE CMD” (Non-inverted ROM file)
It is designed to be run from the FinalGROM99. However it should also work from an UberGROM. Or presently any 128K or greater eprom board sacrificing the startup GROM.
When used on a FinalGROM99, there will be 2 menu entries:
AUTOCMD
FORCE CMD
If you select AUTOCMD, the FinalGROM99 will load both the GROM autostart routine, and the primary ROM. If you select FORCE CMD, the FinalGROM99 will not load the GROM, and auto start will not be active.
Also on a FinalGROM99, thefg99command can switch to other cartridge images.
General Use
Command keywords are case insensitive. TI file system names are case sensitive.
On startup, the program will normally detect and switch to your best video mode, display a banner, set the current working directory to the first drive device found in your system, and set you at a prompt such as:
[1100.DSK1.]
$
To list a directory of the files you have on that device use the [dir] command.
[1100.DSK1.]
$ DIR
Diskname: BLANK Available: 1440 Used: 65407
Name Type Reclen Sectors
---------------------------------
EDIT80 PROGRAM 32
MENU DIS/VAR 80 1
[1100.DSK1.]
$
A list of individual commands/topics are available with thehelpcommand. You can then get a brief description by passing the topic as argument to thehelpcommand.
[1000.TIPI.]
$ help cd
cd <path>|.. - switch to a different drive or directory
For more info and development notes: https://atariage.com/forums/topic/290966-force-command-ver-117-kinda-like-commandcom-from-1985/
TIPI is an inexpensive hard drive replacement for the TI-99/4A.
Sidecar TIPI with budget case
TIPI is an inexpensive hard drive replacement for the Geneve directly supported with MDOS 7.30 and also is available in GPL/Rompage mode in 7.30 and older versions of MDOS.
TIPI stands for TI to Raspberry PI connection. This leverages the cheap storage and internet connectivity of the PI for use on your TI-99/4a computer.
In a nutshell, you get an equivalent to a hard disk, floppy drive emulation and internet connection as well as access to peripherals on the PI (such as the mouse, ports, clock etc)
TIPI also provides DSKx. redirect that allows you to “map” a floppy drive device to a folder on TIPI.. This is not disk “image” emulation but allows you to use level 1 and level 2 file access to data on the drive. This is compatible with 99% of software out there with only a few exceptions.
TIPI provides access to the internet including FTP and TELNET applications that run natively on the TI. PI.HTTP device allows you to read files from a HTTP server on the internet, effectively allowing you to load programs from a web server such as PI.HTTP://ftp.whtech.com/TIPI/DM2K or read in data from a website such as the WEATHER program that is written in extended basic and reads in the national weather service data for your local airport or weather station.
The Raspberry PI is connected to the TI-99/4a via a sidecar or PEB box TIPI card.
The sidecar TIPI card requires the Jedimatt42 style sidecar memory card with 44pin connector and external power supply to operate. There are both 32k and 1mb SAMS sidecars available now.
Sidecar TIPI mounted to 32k sidecar board with Raspberry PI Zero installed
Sidecar TIPI mounted to a 32k ram card and a raspberry PI 3B connected
The PEB card plugs directly into the expansion box and requires a 32k memory expansion to load it’s tools/utilities.
tipi peb with Raspberry PI 3B mounted on the board
tipi peb installed in TI Expansion Box
There is a new combo 32k/tipi sidecar that will also conveniently fits in a speech synth case.
TIPI/32K combo sidecar board with PI Zero installed
Extended basic will only say the words in the included vocabulary in the Extended basic manual. Make sure you enter them in UPPER CASE ONLY if you use lower case it will say “UH OH” for every letter..
Terminal Emulator II will do “text to speech” and say any word spelled in the format documented in the manual.
Speech Editor will also do “text to speech” but they are pretty rare! (I have them in stock!)
Text To Speech was available from TI as a extended basic package that would extend extended basic to have text to speech functions. It’s available here:
Originally when the Speech Synthesizer was designed, it was programmed with about 300 words and phrases (the ones you can get from CALL SAY in Extended BASIC). TI’s intention was to sell add-in modules that went into this compartment that would add additional words to the resident vocabulary. TI then figured out how to do unlimited text to speech through software, added that to Terminal Emulator II, and then there was no need for the add-in modules. So none were ever sold and very few of the speech synthesizers even have the connector inside the door for these to plug into.
Photos of the connector:
There is no data available at this time on the pinout or design of the connector or the never released modules.
I hear there are a couple of side expansion port lines that aren’t passed through the Speech Synthesizer? (these can be jumpered across the board to resolve)
5v on pin 1 (Jedimatt sidecar32 requires this OR an external power supply)
Sound through (SID99 requires this to play sound from the PBOX)
32k expansion ram on expansion bus (see memory expansion for more info)
8k expansion ram on cartridge port (see supercart and mini memory for more info)
Video
TMS9918AVDP, 40 pinDIP. The earlier 99/4 uses the TMS9918. PAL systems use the “9929” versions of each.
32 single-colorspritesin defined layers allowing higher-numbered sprites to transparently flow over lower-numbered sprites. Sprites are available at 8×8 pixels or 16×16 pixels, with a “magnify” bit that doubled all sprites’ size but not their resolution. A single bit is available in hardware for collision detection, and the console supports automatic movement via an interrupt routine in the ROM. There can only be 4 visible sprites perscan line.
16 fixed colors (15 visible, one color reserved for “transparent” which shows the background color). Transparent is intended for the 9918’sgenlockwhich is disabled in the system.
Text mode: 40×24 characters (256 6×8 user-definable characters, no sprites, foreground and background color only, not accessible in BASIC)
Graphics mode: 32×24 characters (256 8×8 user-definable characters, full 15 color palette + transparent (available in groups of 8 through the character table) and 32 sprites (The only mode available in BASIC. Extended BASIC is required for sprites, and can access only 28 of them.)
Bitmap mode: 256×192 pixels (no more than two colors in an eight-pixel row, full 15 color palette + transparent, all 32 sprites available but interrupt-based motion through the ROM routine is not due to the memory layout, not available to BASIC or the original 9918).
Multicolor mode: 64×48 pixels (each pixel may be any color, all 32 sprites are available)
All of the above comprise 36 layers starting with the video overlay input, then the background color, then two graphics mode layers, then a layer for each of the 32 sprites. A higher layer obscures a lower layer in hardware, unless that higher layer is transparent.
Sound
TMS9919, laterSN94624, identical to theSN76489used in many other systems
3 voices, 1 noise (white or periodic)
Voices generate square waves from 110 Hz to approximately 115 kHz
Console ROM includes interrupt-driven music playback
The 99/4a came with 16k VDP ram on board. This is memory shared with the Video Display Processor and Basic. It can not be used for running assembly language or GPL programs. They run from cartridge or expansion memory.
32k ram expansion gives you additional memory for Extended basic, assembly language programs and GPL programs. It also is required for most of the utilities and fun 3rd party/homebew stuff.
Editor Assembler requires 32k memory expansion.
Extended Basic can use up to 24k of the 32k memory expansion and 8k is available for loading assembly language programs.
Logo can use 32k
Multiplan requires 32k memory expansion
TI-writer requires 32k memory expansion
The 32kcan notbe duplicated in multiple cards/expansions so if you want to use another device that provides 32k you must remove or disable the existing 32k device. (this is a issue with the nanopeb/cf7 device as they can not easily have their 32k disabled and so therefore can not share the buss with other 32k ram expansion easily)
How do I get 32k ram expansion?
If you have an expansion box:
You can insert a 32k ram card into the Peripheral expansion box, Many were made by TI, Corcomp and others. (see below under PEB cards)
You can also use a SAMS card in a PEB that provides 32k as well as additional memory addressable by SAMS compatible software.
The 9900 Micro expansion from Corcomp provided 32k and also an optional board can be installed to provide a DSDD disk controller and RS232/PIO ports
TI also produced a 32k sidecar that plugged in the expansion port on the right side of your 99/4a.
Myarc designed and produced the MPES/50 sidecar expansion system that included 32k.
Also you get 32k ram expansion with the NanoPEB and CF7 sidecars.
Can I get bigger memory cards than 32k?
Yes you can get bigger memory cards such as:
Myarc 128k and 512k memory card
These include the 32k expansion ram and use a proprietary method to address/bank in the additional ram.
They also include DSR routines to do print buffering, ram disk etc.
With the Extended Basic II DSR ROM installed you can use 128k of this memory in Myarc Extended Basic II.
Myarc Extended Basic II is a software package that comes on diskette and requires a compatible Myarc or Foundation 128k/512k memory card, a cartridge with ram at 6000 (supercart) and a disk drive to load the program.
EBII is significantly faster than the TI Basic and Extended Basic interpreters and also provides additional functionality such as bitmap graphics and other features.
More info: https://www.ninerpedia.org/wiki/Myarc_Extended_BASIC_II
Foundation 32k/128k memory card – also includes the 32k expansion ram, These are basically identical to the Myarc card in fact there’s a ROM swap to make it 100% compatible and work with Myarc Extended Basic II (there is also a hack for these to make them 512k) (roms available at https://arcadeshopper.com)
AMS – Asgard Memory System cards were available in 128k-512k sizes. These set the standard for AMS memory and were quite expensive when they first came out. (discontinued – rare)
SAMS – Super AMS supporting up to 1mb of ram. 32k expansion is included and the rest is only compatible with software that works with AMS (discontinued rare)
Ksarul SAMS– The latest incarnation of the SAMS with 1mb or 4mb ram capabilities. Currently only the 1mb version is available. 32k expansion ram is included with SAMS.
Buy the board here and build your own:https://www.ar
